Battle of Austerlitz

In 1805, Britain, Austria, Russia and other powers formed a coalition against Napoleonic France. After the French campaign against Austria culminated in the surrender of a major Austrian force at Ulm, Austrian and Russian armies continued operations in Central Europe. Napoleon’s army moved into Moravia, where the opposing forces met near Austerlitz, now Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic. The battle took place on the first anniversary of Napoleon’s coronation as emperor.

The allied Austro-Russian army, under the overall command of Russian general Mikhail Kutuzov, planned to move around the French right and cut Napoleon off from Vienna. Napoleon anticipated a threat to his right and positioned French forces to meet it while preparing a counterattack toward the Pratzen Heights, the central high ground. As allied columns moved away from the heights toward the French right, French troops under Marshal Nicolas-Jean de Dieu Soult advanced against the weakened central position. The struggle for the heights was intense, while fighting continued around villages on the Goldbach stream and along the French left. French forces ultimately gained control of the Pratzen Heights and forced the allied army to retreat.

The French victory was followed by an armistice signed on 6 December 1805. The subsequent Treaty of Pressburg imposed significant territorial losses on Austria and confirmed the collapse of the Third Coalition’s campaign. Austerlitz enhanced Napoleon’s strategic position in Europe, although it did not end the wider Napoleonic Wars. The battle is often presented as an example of the importance of terrain, timing, coordination, and the ability to exploit an opponent’s dispositions.

The battle is also called the Battle of the Three Emperors, referring to Napoleon I, Russian Emperor Alexander I, and Austrian Emperor Francis II (also Francis I of Austria). The historic battlefield lies near Slavkov u Brna in South Moravia. Commemorative events and museum exhibitions there interpret the battle and its impact, and contemporary memorial practice also emphasizes remembrance of those killed rather than celebration of war.